I had a rather embarrassing ride tonight, actually. This week I've *just* started exploring the local back roads, and tonight I decided to do a little loop - would have been about a ten mile ride. I read and read the map and thought I had the whole thing memorized, but a) some of the road names had changed and b) I made a wrong turn right near the start that sent me off course.

And then I just kept going in hopes of finding something familiar. I knew I needed to turn right, but there just weren't any roads going that way! Turned out it was because there was a lake there, but I didn't realize it until I was almost all the way around it. When I finally found something familiar, it was when I hit a big intersection, way way out of my way. I'd already gone twenty miles (!) and didn't much like the idea of going back the way I'd come with the dark coming on fast, so I had to call for help. Luckily the friends I called were home, and found the whole affair more amusing than not. *sigh*

I've been carrying the map strapped to my rack for a week now, but tonight I foolishly thought I didn't need it.

We retraced my path...I'd made one left turn that should have been a right on one of the roads with a different name. Embarrassingly simple - and right near the beginning!

On the other hand, the long ride would be a pleasant one for a weekend, when I'd be prepared for it! Pretty country. Lots of rolling hills, but that's good for me. It wasn't an intentional exploration, but it'll help out in future.